Position Start Date: 01/09/2026 Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent
Application Close: 10/07/2026 Midday Date of Interviews: TBC
What if your payroll expertise didn’t just keep systems running – but helped schools thrive?
We are looking for an exceptional Trust Payroll & Contracts Manager to lead our payroll and pensions function across the Trust. This is a pivotal role for someone who enjoys complexity, values accuracy, and wants their work to make a real difference to the lives of staff.
This isn’t a routine payroll role. It’s strategic, people‑focused, and influential – with the opportunity to shape systems, advise senior leaders, and lead a dedicated payroll team that supports schools to focus on what matters most: education.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Trust’s payroll and pensions service, ensuring it is accurate, compliant and timely
- Act as the Trust’s expert on payroll, pensions and contractual matters, providing clear, confident advice to colleagues and senior leaders
- Oversee monthly payroll for a large, complex workforce, including pensions, statutory returns and year‑end activity
- Line manage and develop payroll staff, creating a supportive and high‑performing team
- Work closely with HR and Finance colleagues to improve systems, reporting and processes
- Anticipate and implement changes in legislation, ensuring the Trust remains compliant and well‑informed
- Translate complex regulations into clear, sensitive advice for staff and schools
You will report to the Director of People and work closely with the CEO, CFO, O and school leaders, giving you genuine visibility and influence.
Qualifications
- Has significant experience in payroll (preferably Edupay) and pensions, ideally in a large or complex organisation
- Holds (or is working towards) a recognised payroll, pensions or finance qualification (e.g. CIPP)
- Has strong knowledge of payroll legislation, PAYE, HMRC and pension schemes
- Is confident managing deadlines, detail and competing priorities
- Enjoys supporting others, explaining complex information clearly and tactfully
- Takes pride in delivering an excellent service and getting things right first time
- Experience of Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and/or LGPS is desirable, but your ability to learn, adapt and lead is just as important
Benefits & Impact
- Real impact across schools and central services
- Chance to shape and improve systems, not just run them
- Trust values professionalism, collaboration and development
- Supportive senior leadership and strong cross‑team working
- People‑centred organisation committed to staff wellbeing and development
If you’re a payroll professional who wants challenge, influence and purpose, we would love to hear from you.
Equality, Diversity and Safeguarding
The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed within its schools to:
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety, and the spiritual and cultural development of children and young people
- Promoting equality of opportunity and community cohesion where the diversity of different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued
- Fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, the individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs; all staff, volunteers and other workers are expected to share in this commitment
As an equal opportunities employer, The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on an application form; CVs will not be accepted. This appointment will be subject to pre‑employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is an equal opportunities employer.
ContactMr Paul BanksWaterhouse Business ParkCromar Way, ChelmsfordEssex, CM1 2QETelephone: 01245 890903Email: admin@clptrust.com
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